Wireless

Wireless

目录

返回顶部

Matter

Matter Boards

Thread Boards

Cellular / Mobile

Performance Levels

Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) Cards and Data Plans

Antennas

Transceivers, Gateways, and Routers

Network Protocols

Wireless Personal Area Networking (WPAN)

Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN)

Cellular

Low-Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN)

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Interference

Certification and Testing​

Dealing with interference​

Wireless Transceivers

Form Factors of Transceivers

Antennas

Antenna Integration

External Antenna

Internal Antenna

Antenna Terminology

Popular Antenna Types

Micro Strip Calculator

dBm To Milliwatt Converter

Products

Services

Wireless

Radio Frequency (RF) products are focused on Wireless communication. Within Wireless there are some common topics that will apply across a broad range of product categories (for example Matter, Cellular, Network Protocols, Interference, and Security). In the product categories of Wireless some of the first places to get started are Transceivers, and Antennas.

Matter

Matter is a wireless connectivity standard designed to make it easy for home automation and Internet of Things (IoT) devices to connect, communicate, and operate across different manufacturers and/or network protocols. Matter is developed and maintained by the by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), which was previously known as the ZigBee Alliance and headed up by companies including Apple, Amazon, and Google. Matter can run on Wi-Fi and Thread devices, with a broad compatibility that removes the complexity between multiple smart home platforms. ​

Matter Logo The Matter Logo found on Matter Compatible devices, Provided by CSA

What problems does Matter fix? View Answer

Prior to the introduction of Matter, the smart home automation market was fragmented with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings having their own wireless network standards. To bridge this fragmentated smart home ecosystem the CSA developed a new interoperating framework for all manufactures to work under.

The Matter Version 1 specification is only for simple devices such light bulbs, switches, locks, home heating, ventilation and air conditioning controllers and home entertainment. Future versions of Matter promise to integrate more complex devices such as robot vacuum cleaners, home sensors, and large appliances.

Matter Version 1.2, released in October 2023 expanded the standard to integrate more complex devices such as robot vacuum cleaners, smart home environmental sensors, and large appliances such as laundry washers, dishwashers, and refrigerators. ​

What is the Difference between Matter and Thread? View Answer

  • Matter is how the devices communicate between the smart home ecosystems
  • Thread is how the devices are connected across the network

Matter operates at the application layer of the OSI Model. It gives a level of abstraction for Smart Home developers, such that they can write their code once for Matter and know that it will function with Apple, Amazon, and Google devices. Thread operates on the lower 6 layers of the OSI Model (presentation through physical layers).

Thread is a low-power wireless protocol running on the IEEE 802.15.4 specification that allows many different devices to form a self-healing mesh network with a range of a few hundred meters and an upper limit of 250 devices. Thread is based on existing wireless standards and is an open standard. ​

While Matter can use Thread, it is not a requirement. Matter can use IPv6 technologies including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, or Ethernet.

Image of Thread operating layers Thread's operating layers of the OSI Model. (Image source: DigiKey – What is Thread? )

Matter Boards

Image of Product Highlight: SparkFun's Thing Plus Matter – MGM240P

SparkFun's Thing Plus Matter – MGM240P enables fast prototyping and development of Matter-based IoT devices.

了解详情

Image of Matter: Evaluation to Certification

Silicon Labs will introduce Matter, cover how to get your device tested and certified, and more.

了解详情

Image of Product Highlight: Nordic Semiconductor's nRF5340 Development Kit

Nordic Semiconductor's nRF5340 is an ideal SoC for professional lighting, advanced wearables, and other complex IoT applications.

了解详情

Image of Product Highlight: NXP's K32W041AM and K32W041A Wireless MCUs

NXP's K32W041AM and K32W041A wireless MCUs are integrated with a comprehensive mix of analog and digital peripherals along with options for larger data memory.

了解详情

Thread Boards

Image of Product Highlight: u-blox's R41Z Evaluation Kit

u-blox's R41Z module is a highly integrated, ultra-low-power module that enables Thread with IEEE 802.15.4 and BLE RF connectivity.

了解详情

Image of Product Detail: Nordic's Thingy:52™ IoT Sensor Kit

nRF52832 Transceiver; Bluetooth® Smart 4.x Low Energy (BLE) 2.4GHz Evaluation Board from Nordic Semiconductor

了解详情

Image of What is Thread

Thread is a wireless networking protocol designed for smart home and IoT devices. It is built using the IEEE 802.15.4 wireless standard.

了解详情

Image of Silicon Labs Webinar - Matter: Evaluation to Certification

The Matter 1.0 specification was released in October of 2022 and the momentum and buzz around it is unprecedented in the IoT industry.

了解详情

Image of Getting Started With Matter Using Silicon Labs Dev Boards

In this video, we provide an overview of Matter, why it will help with IoT and smart home connectivity, and the basic data model. Additionally, we give a demonstration of how a smart light bulb might work using Thread and Matter.

了解详情

Cellular / Mobile

DigiKey partners with top tier wireless providers on cellular services and has a wide portfolio of products and services to support wireless cellular solutions. Consider using cellular as a wireless solution for projects that:

  • Have large coverage areas
  • Need Location services or exact positioning data
  • Require Secure transmissions of data

Performance Levels

High data rate – Cat-6, Cat-9, Cat-12: Found in high power, high data rate devices, Consumer mobile devices, base stations, and range extenders

Low data rate – Cat M1, NB-IoT, LTE-M: These operating categories are typically found in low power IoT or mobile devices such as smart meters, sensor nodes, and distributed machine communication

Image of Performance levels Source: u-blox

Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) Cards and Data Plans

Pre-paid and monthly plans available for cellular data:

Antennas

Choose from stock antennas or build your own custom antenna with the Antenna Builder service from Taoglas:

Transceivers, Gateways, and Routers

These devices negotiate the transfer of data and determine how data will be transferred on the network:

Image of How to Enable Power Saving Modes of NB-IoT and Cat-M and the Energy Consumption Expected

Learn how to evaluate and use the power saving modes associated with NB-IoT and Cat-M cellular low power wide area network (LPWAN) technologies.

了解详情

Image of 5G the Basics

5G is being released in a series of 4 waves. Wave 1 started in 2018 and is the release of Fixed Wireless Access. Wave 2 has slowly started in 2019 and will allow for consumer cellular devices to be connected to 5G.

了解详情

Image of LTE-M vs. NB-IoT

Which is the better low power LTE option, LTE-M or NB-IoT? The best answer is, it depends. LTE CAT-M1 supports higher data rates, and over-the-air updates. LTE CAT-M1 can be mobile, and is largely available.

了解详情

Image of LTE Cat M1 Modules Provide an Alternative to Broadband and Smartphones for Assisted Living Systems

LTE Cat M1 cellular modules provide a link for connected healthcare solutions in the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT).

了解详情

Image of Use a Cellular Module to Connect a Maker Project to the IoT​

Pairing a single board computer with a cellular modem eliminates smartphone or router gateways and dramatically extends the wireless range of maker projects.

了解详情

Network Protocols

Image of Network Protocols

Wireless Personal Area Networking (WPAN)

  • Bluetooth when not designated as Bluetooth Low Energy (or BLE) is often referring to an earlier version (which is sometimes called Bluetooth Classic). It is a short-range wireless standard for transmitting data over short distances.
  • Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is optimized for low power usage and most often found in devices with small batteries and low power requirements like fitness trackers and medical devices.
  • Impulse radio ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) is a wireless technology that uses high frequency, wide bandwidth transmissions. While the technology operates in the 3.1 GHz - 10.1 GHz frequency range, each radio channel can have a bandwidth of 500MHz. The transmissions are short duration and act as a position and ranging sensor using radar principles.
  • Zigbee is a 2.4 GHz mesh network based on the IEEE 802.15.4 specification that forms small scale Personal Area Networks. Not as complex or expensive as other options like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi but often covers a smaller area. Typically found in low power and low data rate devices like home automation, IoT devices and even some industrial automation networks.
  • Z-wave is another wireless protocol for home automation and smart devices, Z-wave is a sub 1 GHz mesh networking protocol used in home automation devices with low data rate transmission and power requirements. Z-wave is owned and developed by Silicon Labs.
  • 6LoWPAN an Acronym for "IPv6 over Low-Power Wireless Personal Area Networks" 6LoWPAN is a wireless network protocol that supports using Internet Protocol (IP) version 6 over wireless networks for improved networking performance and features. While more complex than other options, it does allow for open IP standards for communication.
  • Thread is based on 6LoWPAN and 802.15.4. It can be used as a low-power mesh networking protocol for Internet of things (IoT) products. Often used with Matter.

Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN)

  • Wi-Fi is one of the most popular and widespread wireless protocols, Wi-Fi is expanding capabilities and frequency ranges for IoT devices, low power applications and short-range high data rate devices, making it a very popular protocol to integrate into smart devices.

Cellular

  • High Data Rate Cellular, more commonly known as 4G, Perfect for high speed, high data rate wireless transmissions, higher power requirements for transmitting but there are several low power variants designed for IoT and Machine to Machine applications.
  • 5G RedCap (short for Reduced Capacity) is a 5G based wireless standard designed to serve the midpoint between high speed, high data networking and low power lower data rate IoT applications. There are several differences 5G RedCap has compared to the full 5G hardware standard such as narrow bandwidths, reduced antenna count and lower transmitter power. The benefits are lower power consumption and decreased hardware requirements making it suitable for wearable devices, IoT and smart cities.​

Low-Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN)

  • LoRa – (from "Long Range") is a proprietary spread spectrum modulation scheme that is developed by SemTech. It is long range (~3 miles / 5 kilometers) and low data rate (~1kbps). It trades data rate for sensitivity within a fixed channel bandwidth. It implements a variable data rate, which allows the system designer to trade data rate for range or power.
  • NB-IoT – (also known as Cat-NB1) is a narrowband technology standard that does not use a traditional cellular LTE physical layer but is designed to coexist with other LTE devices and use some of the same frequency bands. It is suitable for static, low-power applications requiring low data throughput, and long-range.
  • LTE-M – (also known as Cat-M1) is designed for low-power cellular applications requiring medium data rate throughput. It has a narrower bandwidth compared to regular LTE, giving a longer range, but less data throughput. LTE-M is perfect for medium-throughput applications requiring low power, low latency, and mobility.
  • Wi-Fi HaLow™ – Wi-Fi certified products based on the IEEE 802.11ah wireless standard which operates on the sub 1 GHz band. This allows for longer ranges and lower power consumption compared to traditional Wi-Fi. While still having all the same features of Wi-Fi networking such as security and ease of deployment, the long range allowed by the sub 1 GHz transmissions make perfect for modern IoT and other long-range applications.​
  • Dect NR+ – is a license exempted, non-cellular mesh networking wireless standard designed for massive Machine to Machine communications requiring ultra-low latency and data throughput. By operating on the global license exempted 1.9 GHz frequency band, there is no need for existing cellular infrastructure such as base stations and towers, allowing users to run their own private network without cellular providers, allowing for significantly reduced cost of deployment. ​

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is a system of orbiting satellites around the earth with transmit position and timing data to receiving devices on the ground. By decoding the position of the transmitting satellites and the time the signal was sent, it is possible to find the exact position of the receiving device. While GNSS is the generic name, there are many different systems and augmentation systems from nations around the world, the most wide spread and popular systems are

  • Global Positioning System (GPS) is a system from the United States of America
  • GLONASS is a system from Russia
  • Bei Dou is a system from China
  • Galileo is a system from the European Union
Image of How to Select a Wireless Connectivity Solution

Wireless communication has advanced by leaps and bounds since the first devices shed their communication cables and wires.

了解详情

Image of Zigbee – What is it?

Zigbee is a wireless mesh protocol developed as an open global standard for products needing a low-cost, low-power wireless network option.

了解详情

Image of RFID Tags and Frequency Ranges

RFID, which means Radio Frequency Identification, is a common technology used for tracking, counting, and many other tasks which require an operator or a system to know where things are.

了解详情

Image of Getting Started with Advantech’s WISE-4610 Industrial LoRaWAN I/O Module

This post covers setting up the WISE-4610P-NA Industrial LoRaWAN I/O module with the S617T plugin I/O base.

了解详情

Interference

If you have ever heard static on the radio, wireless headphones suddenly sounding glitchy or the loss of data packets from a wireless sensor, then you have experienced interference. ​

Interference may prevent reception altogether until the interference is removed, may cause only a temporary loss of a signal, or may affect the quality or amount of data sent across the wireless channel.

Certification and Testing​

The fair and responsible use of the wireless electromagnetic spectrum is a priority for both safety and economic use, national governments require strict compliance and certification needed before new designed are offered for sale to the public. In the United States of America, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is responsible for testing and certification that devices meet Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards or the ability of a product to function in and around other electronic components without causing interference.​

Dealing with interference​

There are a many different methods that can eliminate or reduce the interference from outside sources.​

Shielding: RF shields and RF gaskets can ensure that the enclosures are fully protected against RFI and EMI intrusion

Image of RF Shields RF Shields – One of the most common ways to reduce incoming interference or prevent radio emissions from leaking out is RF Shielding. The purpose of an RF shield is to either block or conduct away interference signals from the components on that are the most susceptible to interference such as RF amplifiers.
Image of RFI and EMI - Contacts, Fingerstock and Gaskets RFI and EMI – Contacts, Fingerstock and Gaskets – Includes foam gaskets that can seal gaps in external enclosures.​
Image of RFI and EMI - Shielding and Absorbing Materials RFI and EMI – Shielding and Absorbing Materials – Includes sheets or rolls of material to reflect or absorb interfering signals.​

Directional antennas to carefully direct and limit EMI from spreading in unwanted directions

Image of Directional Antennas Directional Antennas – Directional antennas are another option to reduce interference from outside sources. By only allowing reception from a particular direction, they can filter out unwanted sources along the transmission path. However, these are large devices that more suitable for fixed installations with a predictable reception path.

Design services for reviewing interference and regulatory policy of an RF design. This can be a valuable step before applying for certification:

Image of Use the Right Off-the-Shelf Metal Cans and Clips to Shield Against EMI/RFI​

Use prefabricated metal cans with complementary production-compatible pc board mounting clips for convenient, effective, and removable RF shielding.

了解详情

Image of RF Shielding: The Art and Science of Eliminating Interference

Explore products and approaches that use shielding and ground planes to prevent spurious signal interference and ultimately minimize RF interference.

了解详情

Image of Design and Shielding Techniques to Block EMR and EMI

The ever-improving functionality of modern smartphones, pods, tablets, and PCs is a testament to the designer's ability to do more in less space. However, as silicon geometries get smaller, sensitivity to noise can get higher.

了解详情

Image of Tackling Interference in High Reliability Wireless Industrial Control Systems

Options to overcome interference in high reliability industrial control systems using different frequencies and protocols in transceiver devices and modules.

了解详情

Image of RFI and EMI - Contacts, Fingerstock and Gaskets​

This Product Selection Guide contains information to help select products in the RFI and EMI - Contacts, Fingerstock and Gaskets category on DigiKey.com

了解详情

Wireless Transceivers

Transceivers are a combination of both wireless transmitter and receiver circuits in one package or device. Examples of products that use transceivers include Cell phones, two-way radios like walkie talkies, HAM Radios, and IoT connected devices.

Form Factors of Transceivers

Image of Integrated Circuits (ICs) Integrated Circuits (ICs) – contain the necessary circuity to form and decode wireless signals. However, as they are just the IC, they require circuit board design and assembly before they can transmit. Not ideal for the first-time maker but allows for close system integration
Image of Modules and Modems Modules and Modems – packages that can be integrated into a wireless design. Some modules have integrated RF shielding and power management features, which can reduce the amount of additional design needed
Image of Finished Transceiver Unit Finished Transceiver Unit – ready to use devices and units to quickly set up a wireless network. Ready to be powered on and connected to a network, these finished units take the guess work out of wireless network deployment and are ideal for plug and play operations when connecting sensors or setting up data links
Image of Development boards and kits Development boards and kits – for experimentation and prototyping, they are a maker's best friend to get started in the world of RF development. With the world's most popular manufactures and suppliers in stock at DigiKey, covering every frequency, wireless band, and application DigiKey has everything you need to experiment and move your ideas from prototype to production
Image of RF Transmitters – Product Selection Guide​

This Product Selection Guide contains information to help select products in the RF Transmitters category on DigiKey.com

了解详情

Image of Ultrasonic Receivers, Transmitters – Product Selection Guide

This Product Selection Guide contains information to help select products in the Ultrasonic Receivers, Transmitters category on DigiKey.com

了解详情

Image of Getting Started with RN42 Bluetooth Module

The RN42 is a Class 2 certified Bluetooth module from Microchip.

了解详情

Antennas

An antenna is a device for transmitting and receiving radio signals and are the interface between radio waves in free space and electrical currents moving through wires or traces in a device. Antennas are typically tuned to a certain frequency of operation, but some are designed to operate across a wide bandwidth (a wide frequency range) or at various frequencies, it should not be assumed that antennas that operate at various frequencies will be effective at all frequencies in between.

Antenna Integration

Integrating an antenna into your design can be an extremely difficult task and will vary across many factors of your design. We can't cover every factor, but the list below will get you started. In general, more metal (bigger antenna) means better antenna performance if it's matched properly in your design.

External Antenna

If you are designing using an external antenna, some considerations will be different from those using an embedded or internal antenna. You may need a longer cable to reach a premium transmission point. Introducing cables and connectors introduces losses into the signal chain and should be planned for so these losses won't considerably affect the performance of your design. External Antennas may have a higher gain also and that should be considered as well as it may put your design outside of the acceptable certification parameters. Location, placement and orientation of the antenna and cable type used will be key factors in the performance of an external antenna.

Internal Antenna

Internal or embedded antennas are often chosen due to size limitations, this often means the performance of the antenna is not as great as their external counterparts and the design is critical to getting the most out of the embedded antenna. Size and placement should be the first considerations for an internal antenna as these will determine which antennas may be used. If your device will be inside a metal box, an internal antenna likely won't work at all. If the antenna will be placed on a PCB you will need to determine what amount of ground or component clearance will be needed for the antenna chosen, some antennas may be designed to sit on top of a ground plane, and some will require a certain amount of ground clearance to operate effectively.

Antenna Terminology

  • Gain – measures how effectively the antenna transmits power in a specific direction. This gets referred to as peak gain, average gain or both on antenna datasheets.
  • Antenna Efficiency – ratio of the power radiated versus the power fed to the antenna terminal. Higher efficiencies indicate better performing antenna at a given frequency.
  • Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) – Measures how effectively power is transmitted from the source through a transmission into the antenna (load). VSWR is measured as a ratio of input power to output power, a measure of less than 2:1 is considered a good match, the higher the VSWR the greater the mismatch.
  • Antenna Impedance – Measures the opposition of current when a voltage is implied. This is the value that must be matched to the source impedance to transmit power efficiently through the antenna. Most radio equipment is built for an impedance of 50 ohms.

Micro Strip Calculator

The IPC-2141 Trace Impedance Calculator will help make initial design easier by allowing the user to input basic parameters and get a calculated impedance according to the IPC-2141 standard. While this calculator will provide a baseline, any final design considerations should be made towards loss, dispersion, copper roughness, phase shift, etc. A field solver may be required for final circuit analysis.

dBm To Milliwatt Converter

The dBm to milliwatt converter tool converts power measurements between units of decibel-milliwatts (dBmW) and watts (W).

Image of Antenna Builder – Fit the Antenna to Your Project​

What if you could have a custom antenna shipped to you in days, not weeks, without NRE costs, tooling charges or minimum order requirements? You can!

了解详情

Image of Return Loss vs. VSWR in chip antenna selection​

Matching is important when selecting chip antenna. Return Loss and VSWR are both parameters used to measure the antenna’s matching condition. There is a numerical relationship between Return Loss and VSWR.

了解详情

Image of RF Antennas​

This Product Selection Guide contains information to help select products in the RF and Wireless category on DigiKey.com RF Antennas are used to receive and transmit electromagnetic waves.

了解详情

Products

Services